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Auki road project continues to engage more local workers 

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BY RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The China Aid Auki Road project in Malaita Province continues to engage more local workers as construction progresses.

The increase in local workers reflects the project’s ongoing commitment to support local participation in road projects and to contribute positively to the local economy. 

To date, the China Aid Auki Road project has engaged 280 local workers in and around the Auki Township. 

One of the local workers, Donald Kwate, acknowledged the project for providing employment opportunities to the local people of Malaita Province. 

“This is a great opportunity and privilege for us local laborers to support our families and meet our essential daily needs,” he said. 

Kwate said the project not only creates jobs, but also brings indirect opportunities for local farmers and fishermen.

“Local farmers and fishermen are also benefiting by bringing in their livestock and produce, including cows, pigs, fish, and fresh garden food to sell to the camp and workers,” he said.

He said newly recruited workers have been engaged in various departments within the project, including construction, drainage, pavement works, traffic control, surveying, laboratory operations, machinery support, and general labor activities.

Photo credit: China Aid Auki Road project

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Consultation underscores global importance of Solomon Islands biodiversity

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

CONSULTATION on the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP) has highlighted that Solomon Islands is regarded as one of the most biologically rich archipelagos in the world, with many animal and plant species found only in the country.

These endemic species play a vital role in the cultural identity, livelihood and daily survival of communities across the nation.

Through its lead ministries, the government is now aligning its biodiversity strategies with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), an international agreement that aims to protect nature and reverse biodiversity loss.

According to a presentation, the NBSAP is part of efforts to mainstream biodiversity interventions, activities and programs across sectors to ensure development initiatives protect the environment while supporting the wellbeing of communities.

To achieve both global and national targets, the NBSAP focuses on 10 thematic areas.

These include improving knowledge and participation, strengthening conservation efforts, halting environmental degradation and restoring ecosystems, reducing species extinction risks, and controlling invasive alien species.

Other priority areas include promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity, managing waste and pollution, supporting agro-biodiversity, addressing climate change and building ecosystem resilience, mainstreaming biodiversity across all sectors, and mobilising financial resources and partnerships.

Consultations on the NBSAP are currently underway in provinces around the country to gather feedback from stakeholders and key players.

The consultations aim to ensure that the strategic action plan reflects relevant priorities and ambitions from communities and organisations involved in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Photo credit: Loretta B Manele

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Besi Youth Association acknowledges Chinese Embassy 

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BY RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

The Besi Youth Association in North Malaita, Malaita Province appreciates the Chinese Embassy in Honiara for recognising them and sending one of their representatives to attend training in China. 

Besi Youth Association representative, Kelly Gilead, was among four other representatives from youth associations and councils who departed yesterday for Jiangsu Province in China. 

Chairman of the Besi Youth Association, Abel Wanesuia, described the opportunity given to their association as a true recognition of their association internationally. 

He said it is a milestone achievement that proves their leadership, vision, and determination. 

“This is more than just a trip to China; it is a sign that rural youth voices are recognised at the international level.

“From the bush of Besi Village to the globe, this milestone proves that leadership, vision, and determination can open doors for young people anywhere,” he said.

He said the journey that the Besi Youth Association has gone through will inspire the new generation.

“We hope that the journey that we have gone through will inspire our youths to think beyond limitations, build connections, and transform our communities,” he said.

The team that left for China yesterday is being led by President of the Malaita Provincial Youth Council, Phillip Subu and they will spend two weeks for training in Jiangsu province, China.

Photo credit: Malaita Provincial Youth council

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Central Province commences IDA for Savo and Russell Islands

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) in collaboration with Central Province  Provincial Emergency Response Team (PERT) officially commenced a coordinated five-day Initial Damage Assessment for Central Province on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

The Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) in a statement yesterday said the operation began in Tulagi where NDMO officers arrived to conduct a formal briefing with the local PERT members.

MECDM said a key component of the preparation included a specialised training session for the response team with the use of the Kobo Collect Application; a digital tool designed to enhance accuracy and efficiency of field data collection during disaster evaluations.

After orientation, teams were deployed to Savo Island and the Russell Islands on Sunday, May 17th and field assessments were carried out extensively across both locations from Monday, 18 May through Wednesday, 20, May 2026.

MECDM said these assessments are important to identify local needs and develop informed recovery strategies.

The PERT teams will return to Tulagi today for a thorough debriefing and to finalise the official assessment data and reports.

The mission will conclude tomorrow as NDMO officers travel back to Honiara.

MECDM said this assessment represents an important step in the government’s ongoing response to TC Maila to identify impacts, priorities and for the development of an informed recovery strategy to get affected communities back to their normal way of life.

Photo credit: MECDM

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Solomon Airlines respond to stranded Brisbane passengers

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Around 50 passengers who booked with Solomon Airlines were reportedly stranded at Brisbane Airport last week after the airline cancelled its Monday Honiara-Brisbane flight on Thursday last week.

Reports reaching this paper on Tuesday claimed that some passengers had to use extra money to pay for accommodation after learning of the cancellation.

It was also alleged that while some passengers were informed about the flight cancellation, others did not receive any notice.

In an email sent to this paper yesterday, Solomon Airlines said the cancellation of some Australia and New Zealand services during May and June was largely caused by the ongoing global fuel crisis affecting airlines internationally.

Solomon Airlines Manager Commercial, John Wopereis, confirmed that the situation had resulted in the unavoidable consolidation of several scheduled flights across the airline’s international network, including the Brisbane to Honiara service.

“Several weeks’ notice was provided to affected passengers, with customers contacted via email, SMS, alongside system notifications issued to their respective travel agents,” Mr Wopereis said.

He said Solomon Airlines strongly encourages passengers to ensure their booking contact details are current and accurate in the event of unforeseen operational changes.

He adds that passengers are also able to check their booking status through the “Manage My Booking” feature available on the airline’s website.

Mr Wopereis acknowledged that some passengers experienced delays to their travel plans but said the airline has been assisting affected customers with revised travel arrangements and onward travel coordination wherever possible.

“We acknowledge the inconvenience caused to affected passengers and sincerely apologise for the disruption experienced, this is a unique global situation and we are not immune to it.

“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain Solomon Airlines’ highest priority, and all operational decisions are made with safety, compliance, and service reliability in mind.

“Solomon Airlines continues to work directly with affected travellers while operational and commercial teams assess the global situation and review services to minimise further inconvenience,” Mr Wopereis said.

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Honiara bus services resume after fare protest

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Public buses operating on the Honiara main road resumed services yesterday after authorities mediated to calm tensions over rising fuel costs that prompted drivers and conductors to temporarily halt operations and demand higher fares.

Dozens of buses gathered at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) bus stop yesterday morning as operators voiced frustration over the increasing cost of fuel, which they say is severely affecting their daily income and ability to continue providing services.

Chairman of the Honiara Bus Association, Jimmy Carter, said the protest was driven by concerns from bus owners, drivers and conductors over the financial pressure caused by fuel price hikes.

“They said the rising fuel price has really affected their work,” Mr Carter said.

He explained that the gathering was organised without formal notice to the Bus Association, but discussions with drivers and authorities later resulted in an agreement for buses to resume normal operations while formal processes continue.

Mr Carter said the association will now prepare a petition to be submitted to relevant authorities, while discussions continue on a possible review of bus fares.

“In the meantime, buses should return to normal service and should not charge extra fares for now,” he said.

Carter met with the Bus Association yesterday and he will present their recommendations to the Road Transport Board next week.

Road Transport Board Secretary and Land Transport Department Director Leslie Nate confirmed that authorities are already discussing possible fare adjustments in response to the fuel crisis.

Mr Nate said consultations involving MID, the Prime Minister’s Office and Honiara City Council are underway to determine a fair and sustainable fare structure for both buses and taxis.

He said authorities are also exploring legal provisions under the Road Transport Act to fast-track the gazetting of new fare rates if approved.

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Man pleads guilty to stealing $296,802 sentenced to 2 yrs 6 months

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BY MELVILLE TITIULU

The Magistrate’s Court has imposed a sentence of two years and six months for a man who pleaded guilty to stealing $296,802 from a Chinese national last year.

Evenson Fangarongo, 25, of Hagalu Village, Central Islands Province, was charged with simple larceny contrary to section 261(1) of the Penal Code.

The victim is Mr Huang, 39, of Enping Village, Guangdong Province, China.

The offence carries a maximum of five years’ imprisonment.

Principal Magistrate Mrs Hilly Elma Veenah Rizu, in delivering her sentencing judgement yesterday, said the prevalence in simple larceny (theft) cases requires the court to consider the need to deter such behaviours from thriving in the country.

She told the defendant in court that the victim had suffered significant economic financial loss, and that substantial amounts of business money had been lost due to his actions.

Accordingly, the court ordered a conviction and sentence of 2 years and six months imprisonment for the defendant. That sentence is to be backdated to the time he had spent in custody since September 17, 2025, hence, he will only serve the remainder at the Rove Correctional centre.

The theft incident occurred on August, 31 2025, around 10am to 11:30am in front of the New Flavour Shop in Chinatown, located opposite the Mataniko Clinic.

Ms Liang Shao Zhen, of Chinese nationality, placed a substantial sum of money totalling to $296,802 inside an empty cigarette carton box. She placed the box containing the cash inside her Toyota Rav4 vehicle, which she parked in front of the New Flavour shop.

Mr Fangarongo sneaked into the vehicle by opening the back door before he grabbed the empty cigarette carton box containing the cash.

The defendant left the vehicle and immediately fled the scene, carrying the box containing the cash, and ran along the road in front of the JQY Shop before he crossed the Mataniko River to Koa Hill.

Ms Zhen called after him, but he did not turn back or respond while he was running away.

On September 1, 2025, the victim reported the matter at the Central Police Station. The Police then conducted an investigation and identified the defendant as the offender in this matter. Two witnesses saw the incident and were able to identify the defendant as the offender.

On September 15, 2025, the defendant was arrested at Hagalu Village, Central Province after two weeks of evading police arrest.

On September 17, 2025, the defendant’s father-in-law provided a statement to the Police. He stated that the defendant gave him a large amount of money on the evening of the incident. The father-in-law kept the money hidden.

The Police managed to recover only $38,000.00 from that money at the defendant’s father-in-law’s residential area at Koa Hill Settlement.

Police Constable Mrs Ellen Anina prosecuted the case, and she represented the Office of the Police Prosecutions, and Mr Wally Hatingongo from the Public Solicitor’s Office represented the defendant.

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Man, convicted to 2 months imprisonment for selling Marijuana

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BY MELVILLE TITIULU

The Magistrate Court has entered a conviction sentence of 2 months imprisonment for a man who pleaded guilty to the possession and selling of Marijuana.

Charles Metea, 42, of Bazo village, Savo, Central Islands Province, was charged with one count of possession or sale of certain plants prohibited under section 8(b) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, as read with section 39 of the same Act.

The complainant is Isaac Tia of Bonala village, Savo, Central Islands Province.

Principal Magistrate Mrs Hilly Elma Veenah Rizu presided over the matter when it came for sentencing yesterday.

The court considered a deterrent approach for the fact that the defendant was merely using the sale of Marijuana as a means of commercial use, taken in the context where there exists an alarming increase of the widespread sale and use of the drug in the country.

The court also took into consideration the premeditation and planning involved, and the associated mental health risks that the substance drug abuse of Marijuana poses to younger generations.

In light of the seriousness of the offence, the court also considered his early guilty pleas, which saved court’s time and resources without running a full trial and calling witnesses and the fact that he is a first-time offender with no prior convictions.

Principal Magistrate Rizu also found that an element of entrapment was involved in the context where the complainant coordinated a controlled purchase of Marijuana by providing $20.00 to two persons, namely, Commins Mariu and Joseph Vilia.

The two men went to the defendant’s residence and enquired whether he was selling Marijuana. The defendant confirmed that he does, and they bought two rolls of Marijuana that were sold to them at $5.00 per roll.

These rolls were taken to the complainant, and the matter was reported to the police. The defendant was subsequently arrested and charged.

“An element of entrapment is an abuse of the criminal justice process,” the principal magistrate said.

She further called for an increase in crime prevention measures like awareness in communities to help curb the issue of the sale of marijuana, as opposed to employing entrapment tactics to arrest offenders.

The court imposed 3 months as the appropriate starting point for sentencing. One month was deducted for his early guilty plea, for which the court gave him full credit. Therefore, he was left with 2 months’ imprisonment.

Those 2 months were back-dated to March 26, 2026, the time the defendant spent in custody, thus the court was of the view that he had already served that bulk of 2-months, having been in custody since March 26, 2026, to date.

The court ordered that the defendant be released at the rising of the court.

Gabriel Maefiri acted on instructions from Vernon Taupongi, and he represented the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Mr Daniel Onorio from the Public Solicitors’ Office represented the defendant.

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Man fined $300 for illegal street selling

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BY MELVILLLE TITIULU

The Magistrates’ Court has fined a man $300 for illegally selling bottles of mineral water within the limits of the Honiara Town boundaries without a valid hawker’s license.

Lazarus Teiba, of Takaranga village, Wagina, Choiseul Province, was charged with one count of Hawking in a public place without a hawker’s license, contrary to section 3(1) of the principal hawker’s ordinance and section 3 (2) of the Honiara City Council (Hawkers) amendment ordinance 2023.

The court heard Teiba was formally arrested and charged on April 15, 2026, after the HCC law enforcers spotted him selling 9 bottles of 1.5 litres of VFresh mineral water to members of the public at the Tuvaruhu bus stop along the Lower Holy Cross car park area.

The defendant failed to appear during his previous court appearances, prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.

HCC law enforcement officers executed the warrant on Monday this week, leading to his re-arrest and appearance before the court to enter his plea.

Principal Magistrate Ben Alasia presided over the matter during sentencing earlier this week.

Mr Teiba pleaded guilty to the charge and was ordered to pay a fine of $300 by 9 am on Monday, May 25.

In default of payment, the defendant is to serve a further 1-month imprisonment at the Rove Correctional Centre.

That $300 fine was imposed by the court after it took into account the defendant’s personal circumstances in reaching that fine.

Francis Wales, case manager from the HCC Prosecution office, told Island Sun yesterday that those who normally sell water bottles along the street, mainly outside the Magistrate court, have special exemptions and are issued licenses under the Persons with special disability initiative, granted specifically to disabled people as a means to earn something to make a living.

The maximum penalty for the offence of Hawking in a public place without a hawker’s license is $1,000. The corresponding sentence is 40 days’ imprisonment.

The Head of HCC Law Enforcement Unit, Robert Madeo, told Island Sun that officers will continue to enforce the regulation through mobile patrols and monitoring within the Honiara township area.

Mr Madeo also warns street vendors against engaging in illegal hawking activities, saying offenders will be arrested and charged.

Mr Harry Bisafo prosecuted the matter, and he represented the HCC and the offender was self-represented in court.

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NEW OPPOSITION LEADER

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Sogavare assumes leadership role

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Parliamentary Opposition Group has formally announced the appointment of Manasseh Damukana Sogavare, Member of Parliament for East Choiseul, as Leader of the Official Opposition in the National Parliament of Solomon Islands.

A statement from the Office of the Leader of Opposition yesterday said Sogavare assumes the role following the collective decision of the Opposition Group to entrust him with leading the Opposition’s parliamentary agenda and national engagement during the current term of Parliament.

Sogavare is a four-time Prime Minister and one of the country’s most experienced political leaders, bringing extensive leadership experience, institutional knowledge, and a longstanding record of public service to the position.

Throughout his political career, he has played a central role in shaping national policy, strengthening regional engagement, and advancing key governance and development initiatives.

The statement said regarded widely as one of the most influential political figures in Solomon Islands’ modern political history, Sogavare has consistently advocated for national unity, independent decision-making, rural advancement, and the protection of Solomon Islands’ national interests.

As Leader of the Official Opposition, he will lead the Opposition in carrying out its constitutional responsibility of ensuring accountability, constructive parliamentary scrutiny, and informed national debate on issues affecting the people of Solomon Islands.

Also stated is that under Sogavare’s leadership, the Opposition will continue to advocate for responsible governance, economic resilience, rural development, improved service delivery, transparency, and policies that reflect the interests and aspirations of all Solomon Islanders.

The Opposition Group reaffirms its commitment to uphold parliamentary democracy, to protect the integrity of national institutions, and contribute constructively to the country’s stability and development.

The group also expressed confidence in Sogavare’s leadership as the 12th Parliament continues to address the important economic, social, and governance challenges facing the country.

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